Card sorter



c. BARD CARD SORTER March 4, 1952 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed May 27, 1946 R m H W.

Gill/2L7? Bard, BY M C. BARD CARD SORTER March\4, 1952 Filed May 27, 1946 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 azzzz/b'mfiarfi m ZMW C. BARD March 4, 1952 CARD SORTER 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed May 27, 1946 C. BARD CARD SORTER 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 March 1952 Filed y 27, 1946 IN V EN TOR.

BY MVQL Q/ Patented Mar. 4, 1952 CARD SORTER Calvin Bard, Tulsa, Okla., assignor to Kwizz Kard Company, Tulsa,'0kla., a corporation of Okla-- homa Application 'May27, 1946, Serial No.-6'72,399

3 Claims.

The present invention relates to a'method and an apparatus or device for sorting cards.

In order to promote attendance at various recreational establishments such as theaters, community houses, fairs and the like, it hasbeen the practice in many localities to conduct some sort 01 contest or game which can he participated in by all of the attendants or patrons of the amusement or recreational establishment. One sort of contest that has been used is a true-false contest in'which-a series of statements are made to the contestants who are "provided with suitable cards or the like upon which their answers are indicated. These cards are then collected and sorted to find out how many of the contestants answered "all of the statements correctly.

sorting device which is simple and inexpensive and yet which can be used to quickly and accurate'ly sort out the winning card or cards from among hundreds and perhaps even thousands of similar cards. Furthermore, such "a "sorting device should be capable of being "used by'people having no training in the operation thereof and perhaps by boys and girls in their teens having no special 'skill'in this regard. In addition, the devicemustnever make an error.

Accordingly, it is an objector" the present invention to provide a new and improved sorting device having all of the desirable features enumerated above. I

It is another object of the present invention to provide a new and improved sorting device and method of using the same which is simple and inexp'ensive'and which can be used to quickly and accurately sort out a particular card or group of cards from a collection of hundreds and perhaps even thousands of cards.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a card sorting device which is simple and compact, which'is easilyp'ortable and which capable of being used anywhere without the requirement of any accessory devices, sources of electric or other power, or the like.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent as the following description proceeds and the features of novelty which characterize the invention will be pointed cated by way of example at I5.

2 out with particularity in the claims "annexedto' and forming a part of this specification.

For a better understanding of the presentin vention, reference may be had to the accompany ing drawings in which:

Fig. 1 represents one type of card which can be sorted by the card sorting device of the present invention; I

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the cardsorti'n'g apparatus or device of the present invention;

Fig.3 is a perspective view illustrating someoi the details of the sorting device and also one=s't'ep in the sorting operation,and

Figs. 4, '5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14,15 and 16 are perspective views illustrating successive steps in the method of sorting cards using the sorting device of the present'invention.

It should be understood that the method :an apparatus for sorting cards of the present invention are applicable for sortin many different types of cards. For example, the method and device maybe used for 'sorting cards'containing records of business transactions, for sorting ballots in connection with elections, or in connection with educational devices such as games or contests. "The method and sorting device iof'the present invention are specifically illustrated in connection with sorting cards used in a contest or game of an educational nature.

Referringnow to Fig. 1 of the drawings, there is illustrated a "particular type of card capable of being usedin connection with a game or'contest which may be employed with the sorting device of the present invention. As illustrated,

this card H is of folded construction compri"s ing two identical halves I2 and 13 which are joined together at M. The two halves areformed from one piece which is folded at the junction 1'4 ther'ebetween. The printed matter appearing on each half of the card H :is identical includ-' .ing identical -serial numbers such as are indi- As illustrated, the face of each half l2 and I3 of the card is provided with a plurality of numbers illustrated as 1 to 10 in the drawings which represent ten statements that the announcer or contest. director reads to the audience. It will be understood that more or fewer than ten numbers may appear .on each card. Assuming that of the statement. These semicircular tabs I6 are designated by an appropriate numerical subscript depending upon the particular number of the statement. In other words, the tab I6 adjacent the number 1 is tab I81, the tab adjacent number 2 is tab I62, etc.

In order to facilitate the removal of the colored tabs I6, perforations indicated at I! are provided adjacent the edges thereof. When indicating on the card II whether the statements are true or false, the contestant has the two parts or halves I2 and I3 of the card folded together so that in removing the tab or semi-circle I6, for example, it is removed simultaneously from both halves I2 and I3 of the card II. It will be apparent that the contest director may ask that the tabs I6 be removed if the corresponding statement is true and permitted to remain if the corresponding statement is false. He may equally well ask that false statements be indicated by removing the tabs while permitting them to remain if the statement is true. Assuming that the tabs are removed, if the statement is true, then the fact that the tabs I52, I64, I66 and I69 are removed from the card of Fig. 1 indicates that the contestant believes that the statement 2, 4, 6 and 9 were true statements while the remaining statements were false statements. At the end of the contest, each contestant tears his card .I I at the fold I4 retaining one half such as l3 as his copy of his answers while the other half being identical in every respect even as to the tabs I6 which are removed, is' handed to the judges who will determine the winning contestant or contestants. For a purpose which will become apparent from the following description, the portions I2 and I3 of each card are provided with apertures or perforations I8 opposite each of the numbers from 1 to 10 inclusive which are specifically designated as I81, I 85, I87, etc., depending upon whether the perforation I8 is opposite the numbers 1, 5, '7, etc. Each of the apertures or perforations I8 are at least partically within the associated semicircular tabs The card sorter of the present invention generally designated as I9 in the drawings and clearly shown in Figs. 2, 3 and 4, comprises a box including side members or walls 20a and 2%, a front wall 200, a rear wall 20d and a bottomllle,

all joined together to form a rectangular construction.

A cover 2| slidable in grooves 22 positioned near the top edges of side walls 200. and 20b of the rectangular box 20 is provided. The cover 2I is provided with a curved extension or handle portion 23 at the front end thereof and i a an extension 2 la at the rear to which is pivotally fastened a latch member 24. The side walls 20a and 20b of the box 26 are somewhat higher than the end walls 200 and 20d, respectively, as is wardly from the top edges thereof. The number of sawcuts may vary, depending upon the particular construction of the cards to be sorted. ,The corresponding notches or sawcuts 25 in the front and rear walls are in alignment for a purpose to be described hereinafter. Slidably mount- '7 ed within the box 20 and adjacent the bottom 20c thereof is a false bottom in the form of a slidable member or bottom slide 26, which extends through a suitable opening 21 in the front wall 200 and is provided with a suitable handle or knob 26a to permit removal thereof without removing cards to be sorted positioned in the box 20.

In order to accommodate a plurality of sorting rods 28, there is provided a sorting rod supporting rack 29 comprising a front member 29a and a rear member 2% held in rectangular spaced relationship by means of side supports 30. The rack 29 is adapted to be positioned on the box 20 beneath the cover 2I so that the side supports 30 rest on the top edges of the front and rear walls 200 and 20d, respectively. In this position, the member 29a has its upper edge parallel and substantially level with the top of front wall 200, while the member 291) is adjacent the rear wall '9 26d and extends below the level of the sawcuts 25 therein. The rear member 2% of the rack 29 is provided with a plurality of openings 32 for rods, 28, which openings register with the sawcuts 25 when the rack 29 is properly positioned on the box 20. This member 2% is also provided with a notched-out portion 33 which cooperates with the extension 2Ia of the cover 2|, the extension 2Ia fitting into the notch 33 when the cover 2|, as shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings, is moved to the closed position whereby the latch 24 is adapted to engage with the rear member 2% of the rack 29 to hold the cover 2I in the closed position.

The front portion 29a of the rack 29 is also provided with a plurality of openings 34 for accommodating rods 28, which openings register with the sawcuts 25 in the front wall 200. It is apparent that the rods 28 are adapted to extend through the openings 34 in the member 29a, the sawcuts 25 in the front and rear walls 200 and 25d, respectively, and the openings 32 in member 29b, corresponding openings and sawcuts being in alignment or registry. In addition, the front portion 29a of the rack 29 is provided with a ledge 35 which may be covered with a stripof felt or the like, not shown. Each of the rods 28 is provided with a suitable point 28a at one end thereof and a manually engageable handle portion 35 at the other end. These handle portions are preferably obtained by bending the rod 28 in the form of a loop with the end portion 28b of the rod being parallel with the main portion of the rod for a short distance as is clearly shown in Figs. 3 and 4 of the drawings. The ledge 35 is so positioned relative to the openings 34 that when the rods 28 are moved so that the handle portions 36 extend in a vertical direction, the ends 28b ofthe rods 28 are wedged against the ledge 35, thereby firmly holding the rods 28 in a relatively fixed position.

The cover 2| with its associated extension 23 and latch 24 actually serves three functions. It serves as a cover for the rectangular box 20 comprising the sorter IS of the present invention when the sorter is not in use. Secondly, the curved portion 23 serves as a guard for the handles 35 of the rods 28 which extend outside the box 20 when in position in rack 28 and with the rack positioned on the box 25. Thirdly, the cover 2I and more specifically the curved portion 23 thereof, serves as a handle for carrying the complete assembly when the latch 24 is in latching engagement with the rear portion 29b of the rack 29. It will be obvious that the card sorting device 29 thus far described is a very simple and inexpensive device which is portable and furthermore is usable any place without the requirement of any additional accessories or the like.

To use the card sorting device of the present invention, the sorter is placed on a suitable 5. stand or table with the curved end 23 of the cover 2I facing the particular person operating the sorter. The latch 24 is moved .to the position shown in Fig. 2 and the cover is removed and placed to one side. Next. the rods 28 are Withdrawn from the rack 29 and are placed at one side of the sorting device as indicated in Fig. 3 of the, drawings. The. rack 28 is then also removed f-rom the box or sorting device 26 and placed on the top of the rods 28, as indicated I Fig. 3 of the drawings, as a reminder to the operator not to replace the rods until after the rack has .been returned to its position on the box 20. With the rack 29 :removed from the box 20, the cards II to be sorted which comprise either the front half I2 or the rear half I3 of the cards II such as shown in Fig. 1 of the drawingS are placed within the box in a predetermined manner. These card portions to be sorted. are hereinafter designated as I2, although it will be understood that the other half I3 might just as well have been turned in by the contestant since the halves are identical. For example, as illustrated in Fig. 4 of the drawings, all of the cards are placed within the sorter 28 with their,

serial numbers I5 toward the right as viewed in Fig. 4 and the face of the card containing the numbers from 1 to 10 facing toward the front 200 of the box 28. All of the cards are then compressed toward the front of the box as indicated in Fig. 5 of the drawings, thereby leaving a vacant space at the rear thereof.

The next step in the process comprises replacing the rack 29 on box 28 with the ledge 35 adjacent the front wall 280. is now continued with reference to a master card designated by the numeral 3! in Fig. 5 of the drawings. This master card 3! has the'answers to the true-false statements correctly indicated thereon and it is necessary to sort out those cards from the total number of cards which conform' exactly with the master card as to the tabs I6 removed therefrom or remaining thereon. Accordingly, the master card 31 is placed Where the person operating the sorting device I9 can dicated on two sides of the card portions I2, first v the sorting device 20 is used to find those cards having the correct tabs IS removed from one side thereof after which the process must be repeated for the other side. With the cards positioned in the box 20 as indicated in Fig. 4 of the drawings, the sorting operation can be performed with regard to statements 1 to 5, the answers to which are indicated along one edge of the cards to be sorted. With the cards in this position, it will be observed that the perforations I81, I82, I83, I84 and I8 5 opposite the numbers 1 to 5 are in registry with the openings 34 in the front member 29a of rack 29.

By observing the master card 31, it is noted that with respect to questions 1 to 5, the tabs I62 and I64 opposite questions 2 and 4 have been removed and accordingly it is desirable to find all those cards having the tabs 2 and 4 removed. With the cards compressed toward the front as indicated in Fig. 5 of the drawings, one rod 28 is inserted in rack 29 so as to extend through the perforations I82 in the card portions I2 opposite the number 2 of the card. A second rod 28 is inserted in the same manner through the perforations I84. When the rods have been inserted The sorting operation 6 inthis manner, the handle portions 36 thereof are turned in a vertical direction so that. the portions 280 are wedged against the ledge 35 to hold them in a substantially fixed position relative to rack 29. The sorter I9 is then picked up and shaken as indicated in Fig. 6 of the drawings .80 as evenly to distribute the card portions I2 throughout the full length of the box 20. Thereafter with the box 28 held with the left hand, the bottom slide 26 is withdrawn with a quick jerk so that all the cards not held by the rods 28 inserted in the perforations I82 and I 84 fall downwardly to the bottom of the sorter. These cards which have moved downwardly are indicated by the numerals I2 in Fig. 7 of the drawings. The rack 29 is then removed from the box 20 as indicated in Fig. 8 of the drawings and during this removal of the rack, it is shaken up and down so that cards I2 not attached to the par. ticular rods .28 inserted in perforations I82 and I84 opposite the numbers 2 and 4 on the card portions I2 fall free and remain in the box 28. It will be understood that those card portions I2 remaining in the box 28 are the ones that have the tabs I62 and I64 removed opposite the numbers 2 and 4 just like the master card 31 shown in Fig. 5 of the drawings. The cards fastened to the two rods 28 as shown in Fig. 9 of the;

drawings are those where the contestant failed to remove one Or more of the tabs I62 .or I64. The card portions I2 remaining in the rack 29 are moved to the upper .end of .the rack as shown in Fig. 9 of the drawings and the rods 28 are removed. These cards are placed to one sidev Thecardssince they contain at least one error. remaining in the box 28 of the sorter I9 are removed and it will be noted from Fig. 1.0 of the drawings that the cards remaining in the box 28 when compared with the master card 31 have the tabs I62 and I64 opposite the numbers 2 and 4 removed and that is why they fell free from the rods 28 in the sorting step just described.

The first phase of the sorting operation has now been completed and the cards I 2,.all of which have the tabs I82 and I64 removed, are replaced in the box 29 as indicated in Fig. 11.0f the draw.- ings, which has been restored to the condition shown in Fig. 4 of the drawings. The faces of the cards I2 containing the numbers from 1 to 10 are now directed away from the front wall 280 of the box 28, although the cards are arranged so that the serial numbers I5 are still on the right-hand side of the box 20 as viewed in Fig. 11 of the drawings. When positioned in this manner, the sides of the cards I2 with the numbers 6 to 10 are adjacent the rack 29, with the number 6 in the same position the number 1 occupied during the first phase of the sorting operation. Some of thepreceding steps indicated in Figs. 5 to 9 of the drawings are then repeated, with reference to the side of the-master card 31 of Fig. 12 of the drawings containing the numbers from 6 to 10. It is noted that the tabs I6 and I69 opposite the numbers 6 and 9 of the master card are removed and accordingly, the rods 28 are inserted in the openings I86 and I89, respectively, as indicated in Fig. 12 of the drawings. By shaking the rack and sorter as indicated in Fig. 6

of the drawings and then removing the rack from box 20 as indicated in Fig. 13 of the drawings, those cards having both of the tabs '66 and I62 removed drop to the bottom of the box 20. Consequently, now remaining in the box 20 are only those cards I2 which have at least the tabs I62, I64, I66, and I62 removed. This completes the second phase of the sorting operation of the present invention.

The cards remaining in the box 20 of the sorter [9 following the step illustrated in'Fig. 13 may then be compared with the master card in the manner shown in Fig. 10 of the drawings except with reference to the side of the master card containing the numbers from 6 to 10. In the final phase of the sorting operation, it is'necessary to remove from the sorted cards those cards which have tabs l6 removed therefrom in addition to the tabs I62, I64, I66 and I69. This can be accomplished by inserting one of the rods 28 through the perforations I81 as indicated in Fig. 14 of the drawing-s and then permitting those cards which wish to fall free of rod 28 to do so. It will be obvious that all cards with tab 161 incorrectly re-' moved will drop free of the rod 28. This operation is repeated for the numbers 3, 5, 7, 8 and 10, the final step being indicated at Fig. 15 of the drawings. When the operation indicated in Fig. l of the drawings is completed, all of the cards remaining shown in Fig. 16 of the drawings will exactly match the master card and will be the cards of the winning contestants.

In view of the detailed description included above, the card sorting device and method of operation thereof will be fully apparent to those skilled in the art and no further description need be included herewith. It will be apparentthat a very simple sorting device is provided which can be operated anywhere and does not depend upon a source of electric current or other power means for operation thereof. In addition, the sorting method is foolproof with the possibility of an error in the sorting operation completely eliminated. The sorting device can be operated by anyone with only the very simplest of instructions and the winning contestants can be determined from among hundreds and even thousands of contestants in a very short period of time.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that th present invention is not limited to the particular construction and method shown and described, but that changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. It is aimed in the appended claims to cover all such changes and modifications.

8 I claim: 1. A card sorting apparatus comprising a box, a cover for said box, a rack removably positioned on said box beneath said cover, a plurality of sorting rods in said rack having ends thereof extending beyond one end of said rack and box, and a curved extension on said cover which partially encloses the extending ends of said rods, said extension also serving as a handle for carrying said apparatus.

2. A card sorting apparatus comprising a box,

a rack removably positioned on said box, a plurality of aligned notches in the front and rear walls of said box, a plurality of openings in said rack registering with said notches when said rack is in position on said box, a plurality of sorting rods extending through said openings in registry with said notches and having ends thereof extending beyond one end of said rack and box, a cover for said box, and a curved extension on said cover which partially encloses the extending ends of said rods, saidextension also serving as a handle for carrying said apparatus.

3. A card sorting apparatus comprising a box,- a rack removably positioned on said box, a pmrality of removable sorting rods in said rack having ends thereof extending beyond one end of said rack and box, means defining a ledge at one end of said rack, and means on each of said rods efiective upon limited pivotal movement of said rods frictionally to engage with said ledge for holding said rods in a fixed position in said rack.

, CALVIN BARD.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,544,172 Perkins June 30, 1925 1,662,669 Hallett Mar. 13, 1928 2,261,719 Connor et a1 Nov. 4, 1941 2,331,471 Holleck Oct. 12, 1943 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 61,341 Sweden May 4, 1923 266,053 Great Britain Feb. 17, 1927 

